After the Ashes(69)

“Here’s the short version, Lorelei. Chris ran over, picked me up, and lugged me back to camp. I remember lying there, knowing everyone was afraid to move, ’cause no one knew what else was in that field. The others were yelling at Chris to stay put, but he didn’t even hesitate. But that’s not all he did. That was the easy part. The hard part was not giving up on me when I cussed at him for not leaving me there to die.” Jay glanced to Christopher, who just stared past the flagstone fireplace mounted with elk horns and a mantel lined with porcelain figurines. “Getting better took a long time. The sawbones didn’t think I was going to make it. Didn’t want to bother with me at all. Chris changed his mind real quick.”

Beth smiled at Braddock. “We’re all grateful to him for it, too.”

“He wouldn’t have been there in the first place if it weren’t for me.” Christopher sneaked a guilty glimpse at the woman praising him.

“But I wanted Mulcahy, too.” Jay winked at Lorelei. “Don’t think it was easy telling Chris the new recruits slipped away with ammunition. Shoot, I think it was worse than getting my feet blown off.”

Beth and Christopher stood at the same time, the latter nearly toppling his chair.

“I need some air.” He headed for the door without a backward glance to anyone.

They all held their breath until he was gone. After the door slammed shut, Beth turned to Lorelei and her child. “Let me take her from you. She should have been in bed an hour ago.”

“I’m not sleepy,” Rachel said. She was passed to her mother without ever opening her eyes.

Lorelei rubbed her arms, not realizing how heavy the child had become until her deadweight was lifted away.

“I’ll take her, Ma,” offered Alice.

“You kids clear the table and start on the kitchen. And make a plate for Archie. He’ll probably be hungry when he wakes up.”

Lorelei reached across the table and picked up Christopher’s empty plate, stacking it on top of hers.

“I’m supposed to help with the horses,” complained Jason.

“Me too,” mumbled little Chris, who had already laid his head on the table, his eyes half shut.

Corey stood. He took a stack of dishes from Alice’s hands. “How ’bout if we all do it together? Then we’ll see to the horses.”

Alice blushed. “Thank you, Corey.”

Jason followed the pair, grumbling. Little Chris lost the battle to keep his eyes open and fell asleep, slumped over the table with butter and bits of corn bread stuck in his blond hair.

Jay and Lorelei watched the older children file into the kitchen at the far end of the house. Corey had never volunteered to do dishes before. Obviously Alice’s affection didn’t go unappreciated. The adjoining room was partially open, but the clank of dishes and buzz of chatter meant the others were occupied—leaving Jay and Lorelei alone for the first time.

“Sit down, Lorelei. I’d like to talk to you.”

She sat in the chair vacated by Beth, having known he had something on his mind even before he made his request. “I’ll speak with Corey about Alice.”

Jay dismissed her concern with a wave of his hand. “She acts like that around any unrelated male between the ages of twelve and twenty-five. Beth says not to worry about it.”

“I don’t know what Christopher told you, but Corey’s not a bad person. He just looks for the easy way to do things. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt your girl.”

“Chris said the same thing.”

Lorelei blinked. “He did?”

Jay’s grin was slow and easy. “Yeah, he did. I think you have a greater influence on him than you know.”

Lorelei looked down at her folded hands, wishing it were true. “Christopher doesn’t seem to listen to anyone.”

“He listens. He just does what he thinks is best.”

“Yes.” She didn’t dare look up at Jay. The man’s eyes were too kind, and she was sure she would cry.

“But you don’t think what he thinks is best, is best.”

“I know it’s not.”

“So I guess I don’t need to ask if you’re interested in marrying one of my neighbors.”

“He asked you to marry me off?” Lorelei didn’t know which emotion tightened her chest—horror, anger, or a hurt so deep she didn’t dare contemplate it. Better to be angry. “He had no right to do that.”

Jay raised his hand as if to fend her off. “Guess I shouldn’t have told you that. It wasn’t easy for him, you know.”

“And marrying a stranger would be easy for me? Christopher’s trying to convince himself there is nothing between us, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. He doesn’t even want to take a chance.”